(CNN) – Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who's been mulling a White House bid all summer, said he would have a hard time winning the Republican nomination if he decided to run. But it's an idea he still hasn't ruled out.
"It would be difficult for me to be nominated," Giuliani said at the National Press Club on Tuesday. "We'd have to be truly desperate."
"The mistake I made last time was getting too focused on the idea of the national campaign," Giuliani said.
Offering advice to two of the 2012 GOP frontrunners, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Giuliani warned against worrying too much about national polls, which he said "don't mean anything."
The real prize rests in winning the early primaries-two of which, he said, lean favorably toward conservative Republicans.
"And I'm simply not that conservative on social issues, and I'm not willing to change just to become president," Giuliani said.
The former mayor said he's still waiting for a clear leader to emerge in the race before he throws his weight behind a candidate.
"If I think we're truly desperate, then I may run, which is how I got elected mayor of New York City. You know what my slogan was? 'You can't do any worse'," Giuliani said to a laughing audience.
Giuliani endorsed Perry in the governor's 2010 run for re-election in Texas against Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. When asked if he'd support Perry again, Giuliani said he wasn't ready to make a decision.
"I think his record in Texas is exactly the kind of record we need in the United States," Giuliani said, but added none of the candidates have clearly emerged as the best-chance winner against President Barack Obama next year.
Since entering the race in mid-August, Perry has frequently taken credit for strong job growth in Texas during his decade-long tenure in the governor's mansion.
On the same day two major national polls showed Obama with declining approval numbers, Giuliani said he thinks if the election were held today, either of the top two Republicans in the race would win.
But there's also another guy Giuliani wouldn't mind seeing in the Oval Office.
"For the last couple of years, having been a critic of [Bill] Clinton, I've been saying, 'I want you back'," Giuliani said, while laughing.
"This has been really a disaster," he added, referring to Obama's administration.
From CNN Politics
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You wouldn't win NY you louse. Go away and never come back
off all the arrogant things you can say to be subtle, Rudy says the one that is not subtle...
..oh geez, he would fit right in with that group of "things" on the right side of the isle...
Don't bother Rudy – the last thing we need is a reluctant prince filling that position. You could probably be more helpful behind the scenes raising money. So far, all the candidates are pretty flawed. Is there not one decent businessman or even a politician, who will put his country first? Somebody from an acceptable background without alot of skeletons banging around in the closet? Where is Harry Truman when you need him?
They aren't THAT desperate.
Rudy implies that you would have to be desperate to vote for him..
Run... All the GOP hopefuls put together don't make one decent candidate! Run for President
Can you vision NEUTERED NEWT AND OVER THE HUMP RUDY as a pair. Pair of what still confuses me. They could co-op and write a book about their messed up lives and [politcal endeavors] but they would be the only 2 Buyers. I have never seen two more self indulged phony poiticians than this pair, that continue to believe they are could be an asset to American Society.
Republicans are already desperate. Just look at the people that are running.
And yes they would be desperate if the GOP does call on you Mr Guliani.. unfortunately your little "911" quotes have run out on you.........
its sad when you see a person and you know the most important thing in there lives has already happened.
now, "maybe ill run again" enters his mind....
at the first debate they would ask rudy "what would you do to fix the economy?"
rudy, "well, after 9-11...."
Every 9/11 he crawls out from under his rock.... GO BACK!
desperate wouldn't be the word - how about an exercise in futility? the GOP and Tea Party are embarrassments to sane, rational Americans.....
If Giuliani runs , I will give him my Obama vote!
Rudy, the GOP is already looking pretty desperate !!
.
Get ready, Rudy. The GOP is desperate. I'll vote for you.
Talk about delusional. The only people more out of touch with reality then this "elmer fudd" lisper are the bozo's over at "Faux News"...
Well, he would be the least offensive of their candidates. Some if the Republicans are scary.
*Some OF the candidates are scary.
Does he think the planet is 6000 years old?
Does he think the Earth is flat?
Oh, and does he have his Birth Certificate handy?
Giuliani is more democrat than republican. he is the image of obama on the social issues.
(looks at current republican offerings)
clearly the gop is desperate. tho, having rudy run won't help anything.
It's a sad state of things if Guiliani is the only choice because the rest of the GOP landscape are nothing but idiots and power-grabbers.
I can't imagine we ever would be that desparate.
Why would you run. Are you a super hero in disguise? If you are then you have a fairly well disguise. Your as useless as Obama. Your only name to fame is 9/11 where you did absolutely nothing in preventing it.
I don't think that he'll see the field as that desperate. He won't want to waste his money and time given that Perry and Romney are so high in the polls. Besides, it is getting too late to really do something other than endorse.